Co-defendant changes plea in death of Iraq war vet

Ashley LeVelle, left, talks with defense attorney Jacques Ward during a hearing where she accepts a plea deal of second degree murder in the December 2011 murder of LaVar Watson at the Marion County Judicial Center in Ocala on Monday.

Last Modified: Monday, October 7, 2013 at 4:50 p.m.

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The result of the morning’s change of plea hearing is expected eventually to send Ashley Brooke LeVelle to prison for 20½ years for her role in the 2011 death of LaVar Watson, 27, an Iraq war veteran from Port Orange. Prosecutors initially charged 22-year-old LeVelle with first-degree murder, but allowed her to plead no contest to second-degree murder.

As part of the plea agreement, LeVelle must testify truthfully during co-defendant Stevin Roopnarine’s Dec. 16 trial.

Authorities believe Roopnarine pulled the trigger on the .38-caliber revolver that killed Watson.

During the hour-long change of plea hearing on Monday, Assistant State Attorney Phil Hanson described what prosecutors believe occurred on Christmas night 2011. He said LeVelle and Watson had met previously on an online dating website. The pair agreed to meet at the Hollywood 16 movie theater in Ocala and then left in LeVelle’s car.

According to authorities, around 1 a.m., after making a stop, LeVelle drove the car toward Summerfield, with Watson in the passenger seat and Roopnarine in the back seat. Roopnarine leaned forward and showed LeVelle a phone message indicating he wanted to rob Watson. LeVelle nodded in agreement. Roopnarine then reportedly shot Watson at close range.

Authorities say that later on, LeVelle used Watson’s bank card to purchase gas and, together, the co-defendants cleaned up the car.

Watson’s DNA later was found on the inside of the car, under the barrel of the .38 revolver and on another item inside Roopnarine’s garage. Around 6 a.m. Dec. 26, LeVelle drove to her mother’s Ocala residence and told her someone had been killed inside her car.

In August, Assistant State Attorney Rock Hooker hand-delivered the plea agreement to LeVelle’s attorney, Michael Reiter, during a courtroom proceeding. The defense took time to discuss the offer before agreeing to set a change of plea hearing.

Circuit Judge Sandra Edwards-Stephens has presided over the case, but will not be the one to sentence LeVelle. Sentencing is tentatively set for Dec. 5, after Edwards-Stephens retires from the bench.

LaVar Watson was a U.S. Army veteran who served two tours in Iraq and was a light-heavyweight kickboxing champion. His mother, siblings and a friend had traveled from New York to attend Monday’s proceedings. They reserved their right to address the court until the sentencing date.

While LeVelle likely would be released from prison at age 42, Roopnarine faces life in prison if found guilty by a jury.

“I think they both should get life,” said Jessica Watson, 27, LaVar’s sister.

“It wasn’t until he was gone, until I realized he had such an effect on people’s lives,” she said. She described her brother as a kind, gentle and happy person.

At the start of the hearing, co-counsel Jacques Ward represented LeVelle because primary counsel Michael Reiter had received a summons to appear for jury duty. But when LeVelle said her attorney had not discussed DNA results with her, Edwards-Stephens suspended the hearing and asked Reiter to briefly come to the courtroom and speak with his client.

During the hearing, both the state and the judge took great lengths to make sure LeVelle understood the proceedings. While LeVelle did tell the court she currently takes two medications for post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder, she understood the courtroom events.

“I can think clearly,” she said.

LeVelle was first evaluated after exhibiting self-mutilating behavior while she was a student at Fort McCoy Middle School. “I was cutting myself,” she told Edwards-Stephens.

At the end of the morning hearing, Edwards-Stephens asked LeVelle if she would like to make a statement and she indicated she would, but then decided to wait until sentencing.

“I’m dying to know one word that comes out of her mouth,” Jessica Watson said after the hearing.

Richard and Jessica Watson stopped in the hallway after the hearing and looked at photos of their brother. They said LeVelle’s likely sentence of 20½ years in prison does not bring them closure and they will come back to Florida for Roopnarine’s trial.

“I still can’t believe this,” Richard Watson said. “Over trying to get a few dollars.”

<p>Richard Watson draped a photo of his slain brother LaVar around his neck Monday morning and watched the court proceedings attentively.</p><p>The result of the morning's change of plea hearing is expected eventually to send Ashley Brooke LeVelle to prison for 20½ years for her role in the 2011 death of LaVar Watson, 27, an Iraq war veteran from Port Orange. Prosecutors initially charged 22-year-old LeVelle with first-degree murder, but allowed her to plead no contest to second-degree murder.</p><p>As part of the plea agreement, LeVelle must testify truthfully during co-defendant Stevin Roopnarine's Dec. 16 trial.</p><p>Authorities believe Roopnarine pulled the trigger on the .38-caliber revolver that killed Watson.</p><p>During the hour-long change of plea hearing on Monday, Assistant State Attorney Phil Hanson described what prosecutors believe occurred on Christmas night 2011. He said LeVelle and Watson had met previously on an online dating website. The pair agreed to meet at the Hollywood 16 movie theater in Ocala and then left in LeVelle's car.</p><p>According to authorities, around 1 a.m., after making a stop, LeVelle drove the car toward Summerfield, with Watson in the passenger seat and Roopnarine in the back seat. Roopnarine leaned forward and showed LeVelle a phone message indicating he wanted to rob Watson. LeVelle nodded in agreement. Roopnarine then reportedly shot Watson at close range.</p><p>Authorities say that later on, LeVelle used Watson's bank card to purchase gas and, together, the co-defendants cleaned up the car.</p><p>Watson's DNA later was found on the inside of the car, under the barrel of the .38 revolver and on another item inside Roopnarine's garage. Around 6 a.m. Dec. 26, LeVelle drove to her mother's Ocala residence and told her someone had been killed inside her car.</p><p>In August, Assistant State Attorney Rock Hooker hand-delivered the plea agreement to LeVelle's attorney, Michael Reiter, during a courtroom proceeding. The defense took time to discuss the offer before agreeing to set a change of plea hearing.</p><p>Circuit Judge Sandra Edwards-Stephens has presided over the case, but will not be the one to sentence LeVelle. Sentencing is tentatively set for Dec. 5, after Edwards-Stephens retires from the bench.</p><p>LaVar Watson was a U.S. Army veteran who served two tours in Iraq and was a light-heavyweight kickboxing champion. His mother, siblings and a friend had traveled from New York to attend Monday's proceedings. They reserved their right to address the court until the sentencing date.</p><p>While LeVelle likely would be released from prison at age 42, Roopnarine faces life in prison if found guilty by a jury.</p><p>“I think they both should get life,” said Jessica Watson, 27, LaVar's sister.</p><p>“It wasn't until he was gone, until I realized he had such an effect on people's lives,” she said. She described her brother as a kind, gentle and happy person.</p><p>At the start of the hearing, co-counsel Jacques Ward represented LeVelle because primary counsel Michael Reiter had received a summons to appear for jury duty. But when LeVelle said her attorney had not discussed DNA results with her, Edwards-Stephens suspended the hearing and asked Reiter to briefly come to the courtroom and speak with his client.</p><p>During the hearing, both the state and the judge took great lengths to make sure LeVelle understood the proceedings. While LeVelle did tell the court she currently takes two medications for post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder, she understood the courtroom events.</p><p>“I can think clearly,” she said.</p><p>LeVelle was first evaluated after exhibiting self-mutilating behavior while she was a student at Fort McCoy Middle School. “I was cutting myself,” she told Edwards-Stephens.</p><p>At the end of the morning hearing, Edwards-Stephens asked LeVelle if she would like to make a statement and she indicated she would, but then decided to wait until sentencing.</p><p>“I'm dying to know one word that comes out of her mouth,” Jessica Watson said after the hearing.</p><p>Richard and Jessica Watson stopped in the hallway after the hearing and looked at photos of their brother. They said LeVelle's likely sentence of 20½ years in prison does not bring them closure and they will come back to Florida for Roopnarine's trial.</p><p>“I still can't believe this,” Richard Watson said. “Over trying to get a few dollars.”</p>